Ground system



Sept. 1950 N. E. LINDENBLAD 2,522,879

GROUND SYSTEM Filed Aug. 24, 1946 INVENTOR N E N BLA E E. L! BY mru k.

ATTORNEY NlLS Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GROUND SYSTEM of Delaware Application August 24, 1946, Serial No. 692,891

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to ground systems and more particularly to such systems which are readily transportable.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved portable ground system.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a portable ground system which is especially adapted for terminating wave antenna radiating systems.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a ground system as aforesaid which is especially adapted for use over ground with a poor conductivity.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a non-elastic, flexible, and relatively heavy, ground conductor.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a ground system which may be readily installed and can always be depended upon to provide a good ground connection.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a ground system which is readily transportable.

The foregoing objects and others which may appear from the following detailed description are attained by providing a ground system in which a number of conductors form a pattern commonly referred to as a star fish. Each of the conductors is made of a copper braid enveloping a heavy steel chain. In this way, a non-elastic,

flexible and relatively heavy, conductor is obtained which will stay put and cling to the contour of the ground. The conductors of the star fish may be attached to a common reel upon which they may be reeled up for ready transportability in a truck carrying portable radiating transmitting equipment.

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description which is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically in plan view an embodiment of the present invention, while Figure 2 illustrates in an enlarged view a portion of one of the conductors of Figure 1 whereby the construction of the individual conductors may be more readily observed.

Referrin now to Figure l, the ground connection forming the present invention consists of twelve flexible conductors arranged in a star configuration about a common center. The conductors are identified by reference numerals H to 22 inclusive. All of the conductors are connected together at a central point by connecting means l0. To the connecting means In may be connected a ground Wire which is adapted to be connected to the radio transmitting equipment or in some cases to the terminating resistor of traveling wave antenna system. Each of the conductors l l to 22 inclusive are made of a woven copper braid envelop 3| (Figure 2) and heavy steel chain 30. In this way, a mon -elastic, flexible and relatively heavy conductor is attained which will stay put and cling to the contour of the ground. The steel chain 30 is large enough and heavy enough so that it will press the enveloping sheath ti into intimate contact with the ground regardless of the contour of the ground. Thus, will naturally fall into and follow along the surface of depressions with ease. The individual conductors are not elastic so the stresses involved in stretching the conductors out over the surface of the ground will not tend to elongate the conductors nor will the conductors have a tendency to readily bridge across between high points on the surface of the ground. Since the conductors are extremely flexible, they may be readily wound upon a reel for transportation.

It will thus be seen that a ground system is provided which features substantial saving in time in installation and in preparing a portable radio station for transportation. Furthermore, it can always be provided to give a good ground connection.

While I have illustrated a particular embodiment of the present invention, it should be clearly understood that it is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made in the several elements employed and in their arrangement and it is therefore contemplated by the appended claim to cover any such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A portable ground system including a plurality of flexible conductors adapted to be laid on the surface of the ground in a star arrangement, each of said conductors comprising a heavy link chain covered with a woven conductive braid, all of said conductors being connected together at a central location and means for connecting transducer apparatus to said conductors.

NILS E. LINDENBLAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,796 Kress May 26, 1891 729,823 Weyburn June 2, 1903 1,667,510 Coe Apr. 24, 1928 2,229,949 Wells Jan. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,793 Switzerland Nov. 20, 1905 77,242 Austria July 25, 1919 539,109 England m... Aug. 28, 1941 

